Happy Birthday: Ida Luetta Latham Wells (1871)

Happy Birthday to my great great grandmother, Ida Luetta Latham, who was born 138 years ago today!

Ida was born in Cass County near Linden, Texas on the 29th of October 1871. Her parents were Reverend Obediah H. and Catherine A. (Goodson) Latham. She married Samuel Micah Wells on 30 Jan 1894 in Cass County, Texas. Samuel was born 21 Oct 1859 Macon, GA and died 25 Dec 1939 near Linden, Cass County, Texas. He was the son of William J. and Parthena (Martin) Wells. 


During Ida's childhood Linden had less than 300 residents and the main industries were lumber and cotton.1 The soil was hard so family gardens mainly held corn, sweet potatoes, and varieties of peas.2 There were several small settlements/communities in the rural areas surrounding Linden. The Latham and Wells families lived near the settlement of Cave Springs. It is believed that Ida's father Rev. O. H. Latham was the pastor of the baptist church at Cave Springs. In the "Minutes of the Fifty-Sixth Annual Session of the Salem Missionary Baptist Association," held the weekend of 02 Oct 1919, Ida's husband, Samuel, is listed as an elected Bros. of Caves Springs Church. In the same bulletin a letter from Ida's mother, Catherine, to the Association is printed. She wished to bid them farewell since she had been confined to bed for several months and was in poor health. The Minutes refer to Sister C. A. Latham and Elder O. H. Latham as esteemed members who spent their lives as faithful servants in the ministry within the bounds of Salem Association. 


Samuel and Ida had three sons: Curtis William b. 1894; Ottis Oscar b. 6 Aug 1896; and Hardy Obediah b. 1899. 

The family is listed in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 Federal Census records for Cass County, TX.

Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Justice Precinct 2, Cass, Texas; Roll  T623_1618; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 21.

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910. T624, 1,178 rolls. Justice Precinct 2, Cass, Texas; Roll  T624_1537; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 28; Image: 811.

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, 2076 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. ustice Precinct 1, Cass, Texas; Roll  T625_1785; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 31; Image: 643.


Samuel Micah Wells was known fondly around town as Uncle Sam. He owned the Wells General Store located in the Cave Springs area "near the railroad tracks." He also owned a farm near the same location. 


Ida's rural East Texas life was filled with family, friends, and community. She was raised strong in the church; worked hard as a farmer's wife; reared three sturdy, country boys; was married for 45 years, and bore a widow for four. Ida passed away on 25 Jun 1943 and is buried next to her husband in Cave Springs Cemetery south of Linden. 


Sources:

• Linden Economic Development Corporations."Tourism-History of Linden,"Linden Texas Gateway to the Lakes. 2009. Web 29 Oct 2009 <http://www.lindentexas.org/history.php> (1)
• McKenzie, Fred. Avinger, Texas, USA. Longview, Texas: Hudson Printing Co. 1988 p 23 (2)
• Rootsweb by Ancestry.com. "Cass County Marriages," online index, The Cass County TXGENWEB Project. Web. 29 Oct 2009. Original records held by the Cass County Courthouse, Linden, Texas. Book 7 p 98. <http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txcass/resources/vital_records/marriages/male_mar_index_1847_2002_pg23.htm>
• Sam M. Wells, death certificate (1939), Cass County Courthouse, Linden, Texas.
• Ida Louetta Wells, death certificate (1943), Cass County Courthouse, Linden, Texas.
• "Minutes of the Fifty-Sixth Annual Session of the Salem Missionary Baptist Association held with the Cross Roads Baptist Church Six Miles Northeast of Hughes Springs, Texas. October 2, 3, and 4, 1919." Booklet. Atlanta, Texas: The Citizen Journal Press. 1919 pp 3, 4
• Effie Perkins Dollard. Personal Interview (1997) Lake o' the Pines, Marion County, Texas.